Pump with Reduced Number of Moving Parts

Abstract

Embodiments provided herein describe pumps and methods for pumping fluids. A first fixed valve has a passageway extending therethrough with first and second ends. The first fixed valve is configured to allow fluid flow through the passageway towards the second end thereof and at least partially restrict fluid flow towards the first end thereof. A pumping structure is in fluid communication with the second end of the passageway of the first fixed valve. A second fixed valve has a passageway extending therethrough with third and fourth ends. The second fixed valve is configured to allow fluid flow through the passageway towards the fourth end thereof and at least partially restrict fluid flow towards the third end thereof. The third end of the passageway of the second fixed valve is in fluid communication with the pumping structure and the second end of the passageway of the first fixed valve.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A pump comprising:
 a first fixed valve having a first passageway extending therethrough with a first end and a second end, the first fixed valve being configured to allow a flow of fluid through the passageway from the first end to the second end thereof and at least partially restrict a flow of fluid from the second end to the first end thereof;   a pumping structure in fluid communication with the second end of the first passageway of the first fixed valve; and   a second fixed valve having a second passageway extending therethrough with a third end and a fourth end, the second fixed valve being configured to allow a flow of fluid through the second passageway from the third end to the fourth end thereof and at least partially restrict a flow of fluid from the fourth end to the third end thereof, the third end of the second passageway of the second fixed valve being in fluid communication with the pumping structure and the second end of the passageway of the first fixed valve.   
     
     
         2 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the pumping structure comprises a body, and wherein when fluid is drawn into the body, fluid flows from the first end of the first passageway of the first fixed valve to the second end of the first passageway of the first fixed valve and into the body and fluid is at least partially restricted from flowing from the fourth end of the second passageway of the second fixed valve to the third end of the second passageway of the second fixed valve. 
     
     
         3 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein when fluid is driven out of the body of the pumping structure, fluid flows from the third end of the second passageway of the second fixed valve to the fourth end of the second passageway of the second fixed valve and into the body and fluid is at least partially restricted from flowing from the second end of the first passageway of the first fixed valve to the first end of the first passageway of the first fixed valve. 
     
     
         4 . The pump of  claim 3 , wherein the first fixed valve and the second fixed valve are made from a single, integral piece of material. 
     
     
         5 . The pump of  claim 4 , wherein the first fixed valve and the second fixed valves are Tesla valves. 
     
     
         6 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the pumping structure comprises a pumping structure passageway extending therethrough with first end and a second end, the first end of the pumping structure passageway being in fluid communication with the second end of the first passageway of the first fixed valve and the third end of the second passageway of the second fixed valve. 
     
     
         7 . The pump of  claim 6 , further comprising a pumping fluid source in fluid communication with second end of the pumping structure passageway, the pumping fluid source being configured to drive a pumping fluid into the second end of the pumping structure passageway and draw the pumping fluid from the second end of the pumping structure passageway, said driving of the pumping fluid into the second end of the pumping structure passageway causing fluid to be driven from the first end of the pumping structure passageway and said drawing of the pumping fluid from the second end of the pumping structure causing fluid to be drawn into the first end of the pumping structure passageway. 
     
     
         8 . The pump of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one fluid level indicator coupled to the body of the pumping structure, the at least one fluid level indicator being configured to generate a signal representative of a level of the fluid within the body of the pumping structure. 
     
     
         9 . The pump of  claim 8 , further comprising a controller in operable communication with the pumping fluid source and the at least one fluid level, the controller being configured to control said driving and drawing of the pumping fluid based on the signal generated by the at least one fluid level indicator. 
     
     
         10 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first fixed valve, the pumping structure, and the second fixed valve jointly form a first pump section, and wherein the pump further comprises a second pump section coupled to the first pump section such that fluid flowing through the second pump section flows in parallel with fluid flowing through the first pump section. 
     
     
         11 . A pump comprising:
 a first fixed valve having a first passageway extending therethrough with a first end and a second end, the first fixed valve being configured to allow a flow of a first fluid from a first fluid source through the first passageway from the first end to the second end thereof and at least partially restrict a flow of the first fluid from the second end to the first end thereof;   a pumping structure in fluid communication with the second end of the first passageway of the first fixed valve, the pumping structure comprising a body and at least one fluid level indicator coupled to the body;   a second fixed valve having a second passageway extending therethrough with a third end and a fourth end, the second fixed valve being configured to allow a flow of the first fluid through the second passageway from the third end to the fourth end thereof and at least partially restrict a flow of the first fluid from the fourth end to the third end thereof, the third end of the second passageway of the second fixed valve being in fluid communication with the pumping structure and the second end of the first passageway of the first fixed valve;   a second fluid source in fluid communication with the body of the pumping structure, the second fluid source being configured to drive a second fluid into the body of the pumping structure and draw the second fluid from the body of the pumping structure; and   a controller in operable communication with the second fluid source and the at least one level indicator, the controller being configured to control the second fluid source based on a signal generated by the at least one fluid level indicator.   
     
     
         12 . The pump of  claim 11 , wherein said driving of the second fluid into the body of the pumping structure causes the first fluid to be driven from the body of the pumping structure, and said drawing of the second fluid from the body of the pumping structure causes the first fluid to be drawn into the body of the pumping structure. 
     
     
         13 . The pump of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one fluid level indicator is configured to generate a signal representative of a level of the first fluid in the body of the pumping structure. 
     
     
         14 . The pump of  claim 11 , wherein the first fixed valve and the second fixed valve are Tesla valves. 
     
     
         15 . The pump of  claim 13 , wherein the first fixed valve, the pumping structure, the second fixed valve, and the second fluid source jointly form a first portion of the pump, and wherein the pump further comprises a second portion coupled to the first pump portion such that fluid flowing through the second pump portion flows in parallel with fluid flowing through the first pump portion, and wherein the controller is configured to control the respective second fluid sources of the first and second pump portions such that during a first portion of a cycle of operation of the pump, the first fluid is driven from the bodies of the respective pumping structures of the first pump portion and the second pump portion, and during a second portion of the cycle of operation of the pump, the first fluid is driven from the body of the pumping structure of the first pump portion or the body of the pumping structure of the second pump portion. 
     
     
         16 . A method for pumping a fluid, the method comprising:
 drawing fluid through a first fixed valve with a pumping structure, first fixed valve being configured to allow a flow of fluid therethrough towards the pumping structure and at least partially restrict a flow of fluid therethrough away from the pumping structure, wherein the pumping structure and first fixed valve are in fluid communication with a second fixed valve and the second fixed valve is configured to allow a flow of fluid therethrough away from the pumping structure and at least partially restrict a flow of fluid therethrough towards the pumping structure such that a majority of the fluid drawn through the first fixed valve flows into the pumping structure; and   driving the fluid out of the pumping structure, wherein said configuration of the first fixed valve and the second fixed valve causes a majority of the fluid driven out of the pumping to flow away from the pumping structure through the second fixed valve.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first fixed valve and the second fixed valve are made from a single, integral piece of material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first fixed valve and the second fixed valves are Tesla valves. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the drawing of the fluid into the pumping structure comprises drawing a second fluid from the pumping structure, and the driving of the fluid out of the pumping structure comprises driving the second fluid into the pumping structure. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising detecting a fluid level of the fluid within the pumping structure and generating a signal representative thereof.